I liked the movie, I liked it a lot. I saw it at an IMAX theater in 3D, which was a bonus for this old man who was nineteen years old when the first movie debuted.

I was never one of those fans who camped out to be the first to see it on opening night. I’m one of those who wait a month or so until all the hoopla dies down. Then I won’t have to fight the crowds and can pretty much have my pick of seats in the theatre.

I liked The Force Awakens but I had a couple of issues with it and that’s what I wanted to write about today.

First off, through most of the movie I kept thinking to myself is this episode 7 or am I watching an updated remake of episode 4 (A New Hope).

I was OK with that, a little disappointed but OK.

What really bothered me was this.

It seemed liked suddenly with this third generation no one had to work at being a Jedi. No one had to earn it.

I’m sure there are a number of Star Wars freaks, geeks, nerds or whatever they’re called, out there who can set me straight on this. But to me it seemed like Rey, who is basically this orphaned desert scavenger, suddenly could use the force without a stitch of training.

Jedi’s usually began their formal training as younglings, when they were children.

Luke Skywalker had to study with Obi-Wan, and then spend a lengthy period sequestered with Yoda just to begin to realize the power of the force and how to use it.

Obi-Wan had his years of tutelage as a youngling under Yoda and as an apprentice under Qui-Gon Jin.

Even the mighty and badass Darth Vader spent years with Obi-Wan and then Emperor Palpatine (Darth Sidious).

So now in this episode along comes Rey, who has zero formal or informal training and suddenly is able to control minds, move objects at will, see the future and fight the somewhat dark side brat grandson of Darth Vader, Kylo Ren, like a seasoned Jedi Knight.

That thought bothered me throughout the movie and it still doesn’t sit well with me.

The more I thought about it the more I thought it must be a generational thing.

Perhaps J.J. Abrams thought this would pander to the current generation, the instant gratification generation. The “Oh, this takes work and I have to earn it, that’s not fair” generation.

You know the “feel the Bern” generation.

So the director and producers must have figured why spend the time and money showing how this gift of the force actually has to be earned like every good thing in life. Why bother since they won’t get the concept.

Nope you’re a Jedi just because you think you should be one.

In fact everyone’s a Jedi, everyone get’s their very own Jedi Participation Light Saber.

It’s funny how movies, no matter what time period they are depicting, reflect the time period in which they were made.

And one more thing that bothered me.

Has Princess Leia gone over to the dark side, the Francis Ford Coppola Dracula dark side?